The revered Delta IV Heavy rocket, managed by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), has concluded its service with a covert mission that has piqued the curiosity of many.
The U.S. Space Force, alongside a collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, deployed a covert reconnaissance payload into orbit via a Delta IV Heavy rocket. The launch signifies the last mission for this esteemed launch vehicle, which has boasted almost 400 missions since its establishment in 1960.
The Delta IV Heavy rocket, under the management of the United Launch Alliance (ULA), launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at around 1 pm EDT (1700 GMT).
The launch followed a 12-day postponement due to a technical hurdle encountered during a previous attempt. Towering at about 23 stories high, the Delta IV Heavy rocket soared into the sky amidst partly cloudy conditions. The launch was broadcasted live by ULA.
The mission aimed to deploy a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), a classified operation known as NROL-70. Hours later, the Space Force announced the successful placement of the payload into orbit.
Originating from a modified ballistic missile, these rockets have been instrumental in space missions since the 1960s, with a total of 389 launches.
Some notable achievements of the Delta rockets include launching the world’s first weather and GPS satellites. Additionally, they have been instrumental in numerous NASA missions, like sending spacecraft to Mars. Among these missions were the launches of the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity in 2003 and the Parker Solar Probe in 2018.
Tony Bruno, the president and CEO of ULA, emphasized the pivotal role of the Delta rocket. He noted that the Delta rocket has been a crucial player in the evolution of space flight since the 1960s.
Moving forward, ULA plans to retire the Delta and Atlas rockets in favor of its newly developed Vulcan rocket. Despite a recent setback where the payload malfunctioned before reaching the moon, the Vulcan rocket showcased a successful inaugural flight earlier this year.
The Delta IV Heavy, weighing 1.6 million pounds when fully fueled, consists of a triple-booster lower stage and a single-engine upper stage. During Tuesday’s flight, key stages separated as planned, culminating in the jettisoning of cargo panels protecting the NROL-70 payload.
The precise nature and objectives of the NROL-70 mission remain classified. In a statement preceding the launch, the US government mentioned the mission’s aim to enhance the NRO’s capabilities.
